THE Scot is hoping for a noisy atmosphere at Medinah later this week but says fans must ensure they don't over-step the mark.

IT was Andy Murray’s US Open victory that started it in offices and pubs across the country.

What is, or who’s had, Scotland’s greatest sporting moment?

The names of Chris Hoy, Alan Wells Ken Buchanan, Jackie Stewart, the Lisbon Lions, David Wilkie and Sandy Lyle have all been bandied about.

But it’s a fair bet Paul Lawrie hasn’t had a mention.

It seems coming from 10 shots back to win the most coveted golf tournament on the planet isn’t considered that big a deal.

Lawrie shrugs. He’s used to his Open win at Carnoustie in 1999 being down-played. He didn’t win it, Van de Velde lost it, blah, blah, blah.

It used to cut him to the core, but not now.

That victory was achieved by a 30-year-old man who is now 43. Old enough to know the past can’t be changed but still young enough to make the future the most exciting time of his career.

And that is exactly what Lawrie is doing.

Yesterday, he landed in Chicago as part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team for the first time since ‘99 at Brookline when he won three-and-a-half points out of five and hit the first shot of the contest as he and Colin Montgomerie put Phil Mickelson and David Duval to the sword.

He carries with him a confidence borne of winning twice this year – most recently at Gleneagles a month ago – in a stellar season that has seen him reach 27th in the world.

Oh, to have the 27th best footballer in the world, yet Lawrie’s elevation to such a lofty position in his sport barely registered in Scotland.

“Look,” he said. “I’m a back of the room guy. I don’t shout my mouth off and maybe that’s why I don’t get much attention.

“But I’ll tell you, I have never been a better golfer than I am at the moment and I am aiming to go higher yet.”

He doesn’t look it but Lawrie is pretty unconventional. He has never moved from his home city of Aberdeen and he ploughs time and money into giving back to the game that has given him such a good standard of living.

The Paul Lawrie Foundation helps up-and-coming golfers and he set up the Paul Lawrie Invitational in 2010, putting up the prize fund for what is now a Tartan Tour event. It was held last week in Deeside and yes, he played in it but no, he didn’t win it.

“It was a great distraction from the Ryder Cup,” he said. “I really enjoy the event and it has gone down well with players and sponsors.”

The Scot poses with the Ryder Cup trophy

There will be nothing but the Ryder Cup to think about from here on now Lawrie is in the States – and he can’t wait to get started.

Even if the last time he played in this event it took a force of will to start his backswing on the first tee.

He said: “I slept well the night before, then had a good breakfast and hit some balls and still felt fine. I had Adam with me all week and he kept me calm.

“Then walking to the first tee, it hit me. I felt unwell. Not physically sick but I was shaking.

“I’m nervous on the first tee whenever I am playing, but this was unlike anything I had experienced. I was over the ball thinking, ‘Just get it in the air’.

“But when that first shot is over there is a sense that it is time to get on with playing golf.”

The ‘Adam’ he mentions is, of course, his long-time coach and closest friend Adam Hunter, who lost a two-year battle with leukaemia last October.

His death hit Lawrie hard and he has walked the West Highland Way to raise funds for the Beatson Oncology unit in Glasgow where Hunter was treated.

Lawrie cites Hunter’s unstinting belief in his ability as a major reason for the resurgence in his career – that, and his own determination to live up to his friend’s opinion of him.

“Nobody had more belief in me than he did,” Lawrie says. “And after he took ill I made it my goal to show him I could be as good as he believed I could be.

“He used to tell me that when I was at the top of my game there were only about five players in the world who were better than me. I didn’t believe it but he genuinely did think that way.

“When the disease struck him, I made a conscious effort to show him his faith in me wasn’t misplaced.

“Any success I’ve had in the last couple of years is down to him and my determination to do it for him.

“I will be thinking of him this week but that’s no different to any other time because he is always in my thoughts.”

The Europeans will have the crowd very much against them this week but Lawrie isn’t worried as long as the fans don’t over-step the mark.

He said: “I like passion in sport, as long as it does not go too far as it did at times in Brookline in ‘99.

“It didn’t affect me too much but some of the things that happened shouldn’t have and I’m hoping there’s no repeat.

“A noisy atmosphere at Medinah will suit me fine. As long as it is quiet when guys are over their shots, I don’t care.

“But the best way to keep them quiet will be for us to hole putts. Sounds simple doesn’t it!”

Lawrie’s autobiography is being penned right now. The chapter that unfolds this week will be a must-read.